Valve-actuating means



July 3, 1923.

F. A. SAUNDERS VALVE ACTUATING MEANS Filed Aug. 12, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gwue'ntoz 5311K A. Exam-1d er s Quorum July- 3; 1923. 1,460,922

F. A. SAUNDERS VALVE ACTUATING MEANS Filed Aug. 12, 1922' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Eel-1K A. Elaundebs ate.

Patented July 3, i923.

latest;

FRANK A} SAUNDERS, or DUBUQU E, IOWA.

Application filed August 12, 1922. Serial No. 581,539. I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that LFRANK A.

Dubuq'ue, in the county, of Dubuque and 5 State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-Actuate ing Means, of which the following isa specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings1" This invention relates to a valve'actuating device, and has for its object to provide a device of this character capable of producing the desired amount of leverage for actuating valves that are difficult tooper- 'It is another'object of the invention to provide-a device ofthis character in the form of anattachment for use in connection with the various forms of valves, the valvestem of which is operated by a wheel hanand extended'a considerable distance from the valve to permit suflicient pressure to be applied to said device for actuating a valve without requiring unnecessary strain ,on the part of the operator, and without dangerof damaging the valve.

' It is still a further object of the invention to provide a device of this character which can be positioned .at any point on the wheel handle ofthe valve, regardless-of the position of the-valve within the valve casing, and'without the use of fastening means.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved conhereinafter more particularly described, fully claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which t Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a valve actuating device constructed in" accordance with an embodiment of the invention and shown applied to the wheel handle of a valve, the wheel handle being shown in section' Y Figure2 is a top plan view of the device; Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure t isa side elevation'of another form of the device, showi g the frame applied to a wheel handle;

SAUNDERS, afcitizen of the'United States, residing at I 'ture shown in Figure 6.

struction and arrangement of parts to be lug is adapted to be positioned between the VALV -noruncrnve MEANS. v

' Figure 5 is a top plan view of the strut-' ture shown in Figure 4C;

artar ere:

Figure 6 isa side elevationof another form of the device; andj Figure 7 is a top plan' view of the struc- It is a well known fact that all types 10f I valves, including globe, seat or gate valves,

usedin connection with steam, ammonia,

air, water, {or other" fluid under pressure, must be rendered leak-proof and therefore equipped with the ordinary type of wheel. handle, which in view ofjthe tight packing, of the valve, are not suflicient to permit open-' ing and closing of the valve without great 1 strain on the part ofthe operator, in addition'to requiring considerable time, and even.

then it is quite diflicult to tightly close the valven 1 a This disadvantage is overcome by the provision of a novel form of valve actuating de-- vice 1n the form of a lever or shankwhlchv may be readily applied andremoved from any type ofvalve using a wheel handle to Y permitthe desired leverage and cause the valve to be quickly and properly actuated. i

To accommodate the various types 'of..

The type disclosed inf Fig. 1 eonvalve handles,- the device is made in several types. sists of a shank 5 which is relatively 101. 12, and has its endportions- 6 and 7 enlarged,

the end portion 6 being provided with an opening through which a bolt/Z4 extends, a

rotatable hand grip 8 being mounted on theposed in the plane of the outerrim of the wheel. Projecting fromthe end portion 7 9 bolt, by means of which the device is operof the shank is an extension 13, said extension being substantially formed into a hook adapted to engage'the rim-of the wheel'handle 12. A lug l lis' struck from the shank 5, to one side of the center of'theshank and adjacent-the opening 9, said lug'being dis.

posed atright angles to the shank and pro jecting in the direction ofthe hook. :This

spokes of the wheel handle '12. v

In the application of this form of the invention, the hook 13 is extended beneath the rimjo'itthe handle between the spokes thereof, While the beaded end 10 of the valve stem is permitted to enter the opening 9. The lug 14 is then positioned between [the spokes remote from the portion of the Wheel engaged by the hook. This permits a firm grip to be had upon the Wheel handle,

and as the hand grip 8 is disposed a considerable distance from the Wheel handle, it is possible to operate the most difiicult type of valve with ease and rapidity. It. will be noted that no fastening means of any character are used to connect the shank tothe Wheel handle. In view of this, the shank maybe applied to the handle 12, regardless ofthe position of. the valve Within thevalve casing. It may be readily detached by simply moving the lever away from the valve handle so as to permit disengagement of the lugliirom the handle 12.

s In F igs; 4 and 5 another form of the inventionisshoivn. This form, similar to the ,for njust; describech'is intended for use in connection With a Wheelhandle of'flat design, in other Words, wherein thehub of the Wheel. is disposed substantially in the planeof the wheel. This form embodies a- .shank15 having. enlarged ends 16 and 17, the end 16 being provided With a handle 18 similar to the handle 8. The end portion 17 is provided with a relatively large opening 1 9'-adapted to receive the securing nut, of the Wheelhandle 12. It is of course ob .vious that the opening is not intended to engage. the nut, similar to a Wrench, but

simply to serve as a recess for: the nut so as to permit the shankto lie substantially paralleland closely adjacent the Wheel handle 12.1 Projecting from the end portion 17 of theshank isanextension 20, said extension,

similar, to the extension 13, being formed into a book. This form of the device is part cularly adapted for usein connection With a, valve, the parts of which are relatively large, inother Words, wherein the hub memher; is. relatively thick. The hook member 20 is made I in accordance With the. thickness of the hub, so as to extend beneath andenthe rim ofthe Wheel and permit the enlargedend portion 17 of the shank toengage'thej'upperface of the hubs This form of the invention, similar to the form pre- .viously described, does not require any type i offastening means.

ln F igs. '6 and 7 still another form of invention is. shown. This form of the inventionisintended'. for use in connection With, a crown type of Wheel handle 21, or wherein the hub portion. 22 of the handle is offset with respect to the rim. This form embodiesja shank 23having enlarged end portions. 24: and 25, the end portions 24:139-

ing provided with the usual rotatable handle 26,. similar in construction to the handles 8 and 18, Theend portion 25.is provided With a relatively large circular opening126 adapted to receive the securing nut 27 ofthe Wheel handle 21. Projecting from-the end. portion 25 is anextension 28, said exten= sion being flat and disposed Within the plane torm of valve actuating devicevvhich may be applied to any type of valve. using a; round or Wheel handle. The device iscapable of attachment WitllOlli) the use t screws, or clamps. litisalsolapplicable-toga valve disposed 1nv an obscure p1ace, as- 1t. is

possible toqoperate the valve similar to the}.

movement. of a ratchetlever, and the: device may be easily and quickly applied to various points or portions of the heel handle; In addition to this it provides a relatively long lever capable 01 being operated-by anyone,;

without any unnecessary. strain, regardless of the tightness of the valve.

It'lS of course obvious that my, invention issusceptible of some change -and,.modification without departing from the principle.

and spirit thereof, in view of the necessity of accommodating the device tovarious shapes of handles. For this reason-,Ido not Wish to be understood as limiting. myself. to

the precise arrangement and formation .ofa. the device herein shown in carry ng out my invention in practice, 4 except as hereinafter claimed. I

. What.is,claimed is:.

1". Valve actuating means; comprising a;

shank having an openmgdnloneehd there of for the reception of thesecuring means of a. valve handle, and anexten'sioniprojecting; from c said: end of, the. shank and, arranged. to engage the valvehandle.

2. Valve actuating means coinprising"; a shank having-an opening'in oneendfth'ere o-farranged to receive, a portion ofja-va'lve, an extensionprojecting from said; end; and arranged, to engage portion of. the1.jvalve handle, that: portion of the shank adjacent the opening and'remote from the. extension I, being arranged to engage the valve. handle.

3. Valve actuating 'means comprising';'a shank having an openmgin one, end there of, extensions projecting, from said end-ad jacent the opening, said end portion of the shank being'arranged toengage the handle of a valve, and a, handle member carried by the opposite end of. the shank.

arranged to engage the Wheel handle of a signature.

4:. Valve actuating means eoinprising a "tension beingarrangedto engage the Wheel shank having an enlarged end portion, said handle of the valve, and a rotatable handle end'portion being provided with aniopencarried by the op ositevend of the shank. 9 v ing, and an extension, said extension being In testimony W ereof I hereunto aflix my;

valve, that portion of said end portion adj acent the opening and remote from said ex- A; i i i 

